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Key Message
Continue with the necessary coordination and maintain engagement with stakeholders and citizens to support implementation.
Adaptation governance is a complex and varied process, involving coordination and cooperation across governance levels and sectors, as well as ongoing engagement with stakeholders and citizens. Step 1.3 focused on establishing these coordination mechanisms. Multi-level coordination is important to support implementation of your adaptation plan (Step 5.1) or other plans (Step 5.2).
You should engage continuously with stakeholders and citizens during implementation (see Example 5.4), especially when seeking approval for challenging measures. Some actions may gain approval easily, but others (e.g. sea walls or retreat strategies) may face resistance and require sustained engagement. Consistent communication builds trust, fosters constructive relationships and enhances community acceptance of adaptation measures. Regular engagement and collaboration with coordination bodies and committees will ensure alignment with community needs and sustained momentum. Review committees’ composition and stakeholder involvement regularly, to achieve the best outcomes during the transition from planning to implementation.
Example 5.4 Adapting northern cultural heritage through community engagement
The Adapt Northern Heritage project emphasised active participation of communities and local authorities in adapting their cultural heritage to the challenges of climate change. Communities were directly involved in project activities, through engagement and informed planning. A network of local stakeholders was established, fostering knowledge exchange and cross-border collaboration across nine sites in northern Europe (Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Scotland). The network enabled local stakeholders to share experiences, knowledge and feedback throughout the project.
Resources
MIP4ADAPT Stakeholder and Citizen Engagement in Climate Adaptation: A DIY Manual (2023)
Section 5 has guidance on engaging citizens via citizen science and collecting feedback throughout the adaptation process.
MOSAIC Cookbook (2018-2020)
Phase 3 shows how to collect feedback and learnings from stakeholders throughout a project’s life cycle.
INTERREG GoApply Project - Criteria and Factors for Successful Stakeholder Participation (2018)
It outlines success criteria for stakeholder engagement in climate change adaptation within the GoApply project, focusing on participatory activities.
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This translation is generated by eTranslation, a machine translation tool provided by the European Commission.